The fashion designer delayed the curtain call of the new West End musical based on the Spice Girls' biggest hits by 15 minutes last night (11.12.12), arriving fashionably late because she was stuck in traffic.

Once inside the theatre, Victoria also chose to sit separately with her soccer star husband David Beckham and their three sons, Brooklyn, 13, Romeo, 10, and seven-year-old Cruz.

Geri was undeterred by Victoria's behaviour, however, enthusing: ''What a privilege - the songs that we wrote a West End cast are now singing ... We're truly blessed that everybody still supports the Spice Girls!''

Mel C added: ''We're so proud of this. Jennifer Saunders has written an incredible story and we have a wonderful cast. It's a great, great show.''

The musical - scripted by comedienne Jennifer Saunders - stars newcomer Hannah John-Kameniva and Eurovision entry Sally Ann Triplett and centres around a girl called Viva who gets caught up in a TV talent show which turns her life upside down.

Victoria - who did appear on stage with the other girls - later took to Twitter to praise her bandmates and their former manager Simon Fuller.

She tweeted: ''Great time with my girls tonight! Thank you Simon Fuller, we couldn't have done this without you!!! x Vb (sic)''